Born in the small town of Libertyville, Illinois, Reilly began his music career in the late '80s, securing gigs in
Chicago with The Drovers, The Eisenhowers, and Community 9. His eclectic tastes were evident from the beginning of
his career--from Celtic to punk rock to mixtures of blues and R&B, he had touched on a bit of everything. By the
early '90s, Reilly was retired and working odd jobs, including as a doorman and a cemetery worker. In 2001, Reilly
returned with a thrilling debut band album Salesman and Racists. His gritty voice and honest yet provocative lyrics
helped propel the album to positive reviews.

In 2003, Reilly and his band assumed the name the Ike Reilly Assassination and released two albums in subsequent
years: Sparkle in the Finish (2004) and Junkie Faithful (2005). His fourth, the politically charged "We Belong To
The Staggering Evening", came out in 2007, and was followed by the like-minded collection of street poetry taken
from numerous demos,"Poison The Hit Parade" in 2008. Sprinkled in between the albums are a number of strong EPs,
some just digital.

Reilly's latest, "Hard Luck Stories," is full of his characteristic rough rock and honest vocals. His songs are
Bohemian poetry, putting tales of hard luck into song. As PopMatters reviewed the release, "...it’s a very strong
piece of work, filled with good yarns and catchy tunes."

Don't miss this free performance of Ike Reilly's this coming Friday, when he comes on stage for a Free at Noon show.

PARKING NOTICE and Directions

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. For more information on parking in the area visit World Cafe Live.

Fully trained soprano opera singer Kate Miller-Heidke thought she was heading towards a career in Australian opera, with full-fledged plans to take up Gilbert & Sullivan roles. But despite her classic training and multiple degrees in music, she was so compelled by the power of pop music that she decided to veer off her original musical path into another. The singer/songwriter and pianist joined several Brisbane bands before deciding to go solo in 2002, releasing her first EP "Telegram" in 2004. A year later she won the Helpmann Award for Best Performance for her role in the 2005 Women in Voice show and her single "Space They Cannot Touch" was becoming a major radio hit. The viral music sensation continued to power out theatrically tinged folk-pop piano tunes on subsequent EPs, and it seemed that her eclectic, shrill voice and operatic comedy was sending transformative waves across Australia. Often collaborating with her husband, Keir Nuttall, Kate states that her music is "experimental, hooky, unashamedly pop..." It is these features that landed her on Sony Australia records and led to her multi-ARIA nominated and Gold debut album "Little Eve"(2007).

Surely a hard album to follow, Kate took up the challenge and put together one of the top albums of 2008.
"Curiouser" caused instant buzz, going Platinum before being nominated for and ultimately winning awards. Recorded in Los Angeles, the album has the right combination of her operatic humor and wit as well as a new found sense of confidence. She coompletely throws herself into the waters of songwriting, embracing the intimate words she feared revealing - seeing as she's landed at the top of the charts, it's a tactic that seems to have worked.

Join us this Friday for a live performance from Miller-Heidke in the World Cafe. It's free at noon, it's going to be great, and is there any better way to start off the weekend?

PARKING NOTICE and Directions

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. For more information on parking in the area visit World Cafe Live.

Gogol Bordello, named after the famous writer Nikolai Gogol, is a Gypsy punk band from New York City.
They came together in the late '90s, playing their first shows in an after-hours club where they quickly
became the house band. Over the past decade, they've cultivated a reputation by word of mouth and by following
a hefty tour schedule--this nine-person outfit never fails to impress while on the stage. Their theatrical
performances, multitude of instruments, and Gypsy-based music mixed with punk and dub are something to behold.

Since their inception, Gogol Bordello has been on stage with big names such as Madonna, Flogging Molly, and Cake.
They've performed on almost every late-night show one could think of, appeared in several films, and released five
studio albums in addition to several EPs and compilations. Their latest, "Trans-Continental Hustle", is also Gogol
Bordello's studio album debut.

It's rough, fast, extremely danceable, and palatable to just about every taste--it's produced by main-stream-maker
Rick Rubin but doesn't lose one lick of its originality. With their accordions, guitars, multiple forms of percussion,
and on-stage dancers, Gorgol Bordello puts sheer exhuberance to music.

Join us this Friday at noon for a free performance for one of America's festival show-stoppers, the unconquerable
Gorgol Bordello.

A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music. Made possible by support from XPN Members, and Comcast.

PARKING NOTICE and Directions

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. For more information on parking in the area visit World Cafe Live.

Next up on Live Friday Free At Noon, boasts the up-and-coming six-man outfit Truth and Salvage Co. who produce
what can only be called genuine American rock 'n' roll. With a total of four main songwriters/lead
singers at the helm, Bill "Smitty" Smith (drums and vocals), Joe Edel (bass), Adam Grace (organ),
Walker Young (piano and vocals), Tim Jones (rhythm guitar and vocals), and Scott Kinnebrew
(lead guitar and vocals) could easily lose their vision and focus. But give a listen to their debut
or attend a live concert, and it's easy to see the simple, energetic chemistry that makes Truth and
Salvage Co.

Every current member had a previous stake in some other musical project, including The Moldy Peaches,
Ben Folds Five, and Jack Johnson. In something they like to call a 'mass exodus', each made their
way to Los Angeles from across the states where fate had them all on the same stage in no time.
What started out as just jamming for fun turned into a full-blown musical project. Their energetic
live performances soon had them selling out venues, and they signed onto Silver Arrow Records (The
Black Crowes label).

The eponymous debut of Truth and Salvage Co. was released in late May of this year, and its "timeless
sound" and "interwoven lyrical storytelling" is making many fans out of critics. (Amazon.com)
There are obvious hints of classic rock (the Eagles, anyone?) but the album is a wholehearted blend
of alt-country and even alt-rock influences.

This buoyant band with the unwieldy name opened for the Crowes last year, but this gig is their first headlining effort. Truth and Salvage Co. are touring nationally in support of their studio debut. They
currently have stops in New York, Cleveland, San Francisco, and of course, Philly. Catch them at
World Cafe this Friday at noon, but for those who can't manage the time, the band is playing the
North Star Bar that same night.

Blog Entry:
So good to be back in the northeast, we missed all y'all a whole bunch. And thanks for supporting the new record - it's been getting quite the buzz - all because of y'all!

Summer is proving to be good and fun! Dates coming up with The Black Crowes, Big Head Todd, Gov't Mule, and The Avett Brothers. It's good to be busy - keeps the head from spinnin'. Hope to see y'all out there somewhere.

Live Friday Free At Noon Concert Archives

Check out the archives, listen to the concerts. Visit NPR.org/Music to hear this concert.

A co-production of WXPN and NPR Music. Made possible by support from XPN Members, and Comcast.

PARKING NOTICE and Directions

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. For more information on parking in the area visit World Cafe Live.

Click the Artist name below to RSVP:

Josh Ritterat World Cafe Live

Already a superstar in Ireland, folk-rock singer-songwriter and Idaho native Josh Ritter is finally getting the recognition in America that he deserves. Ritter will return to headline a concert from WXPN and World Cafe Live in Philadelphia for the weekly Free At Noon performance.

Influenced by classic songwriters such as Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen, Ritter began writing songs while attending Oberlin College, where he changed his major from Neuroscience to Folk Music. After relocating to Boston, Ritter started getting his name out through a self-released eponymous debut album and near-constant gigging.

Opening slots on tour with both Bob Dylan and The Frames netted Ritter a good deal of attention, and even led to his own sold-out headlining tour of Ireland. His growth as a songwriter and a musician have continued unabated with a decade of critically acclaimed releases that show his many musical faces. Named one of the 100 Greatest Living Songwriters by Paste Magazine, he established a strong fan base in the Americana section and shared stages with names like the Boston Symphony Orchestra, Ray Lamontagne, and the Swell Season.

Ritter's sixth album, "So Runs The World Away", is due out this spring, and critics are already calling it 'ambitious', 'literary', and a 'triumph' all around. Join the rest of Philly in welcoming this proven folk star to the XPN Free At Noon stage at World Cafe Live on Friday, March 26, 2010. With any luck, he'll play from this new highly anticipated release.

Josh Ritter is playing a special sold out show in Asbury Park, before heading out on his Spring Tour to Ireland. He'll be back in Philly on May 7, 2010 at the TLA. Tour Dates and more at JoshRitter.com.

PARKING NOTICE

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. For more information on parking in the area visit World Cafe Live./p>

Click the Artist name below to RSVP:

Citizen Copeat World Cafe Live

This Year is the 5th Anniversary of XPN Free At Noon

Called a musical mixologist for his expert blending of differing genres, Citizen Cope (Clarence Greenwood) is the name for both the lead singer and the band he heads. Born in the blues-drenched city of Memphis, the young musician learned to tell stories with music and has continued to do so ever since. Hip-hop beats, quiet piano melodies, a hint of pop, and ever-present blues have served him well in every release. He'll be performing this Friday at World Cafe, bringing his "gritty urban poetry" to the stage for a lunch-break performance.

First catching the eye of the music world in the '90s with his contributions to rap albums, Citizen Cope released his debut in the mid-90's, "Cope Citizen". He's created three more LPs to date, as well as contributing his talents as a DJ, singer/songwriter, keyboardist, guitarist, and producer to numerous projects. His latest album, The Rainwater LP, is due out this March on his own label.

Releasing half of the album to devoted fans in the fall of 2009, Citizen Cope has built anticipation for the second half with its deeply personal feel. As said by the creator, ""When you’re writing a song, you take in everything – the people you’ve met, what you’ve experienced. You take in everything and it makes a story.” The Rainwater LP is filled with stories from the life and musical journey of Citizen Cope, and told well. As quoted in Rolling Stone, he's "a modern day bluesman who paints a plaintive portrait of the human condition".

Be sure to make it to this week's Free at Noon with Citizen Cope as he stops in Philly for his massive album tour. This will be one heck of a bluesy lunch break.

PARKING NOTICE

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. WXPN has made arrangements with the University of Pennsylvania to open UPENN Lot #26 on Walnut Street between the hours of 10:30am and 2pm every Friday. If you must drive, you can park there (Cost is $5.00). Entrance to the Lot 26 is on Walnut Street, just east of 32nd street. Here's a link to Penn's Parking map.

Cory Chisel is one of those rare, contemporary folk artists whose authenticity is indubitable. No matter how you define authentic, you'd be hard pressed to put a finger on anything not-so when listening. From the emotion to the influences to the background, Chisel doesn't let one iota of insincerity into his work. For this reason (and because of his undeniable talent) XPN is choosing him as the Artist to Watch for October 2009.

When most people think of the best of jazz and soul, a skinny white kid from Ann Arbor, Michigan, is probably not the first thing that comes to mind. But Mayer Hawthorne (Andrew Mayer Cohen) is well on his way to changing that. With influences like Smokey Robinson, Curtis Mayfield, and the collaboration of Lamont Dozier, Brian Holland, and Eddie Holland Jr, Mayer has a retro sound that bespeaks a seasoned yet refreshing soul.

They're a big outfit as most indie bands go, but the 13-piece Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros have created quite a buzz in L.A. and in the indie world. Making excellent '60s-style folk rock that could just be called revivalist, with their convert school/tour bus, their back porch acoustics, and their almost communal air, this is one band not to miss.

The World Cafe is broadcast on WXPN
Monday through Friday at 2pm ET.

The World Cafe with host David Dye serves up an eclectic mix of music from blues, rock, and world, to folk, and alternative country with live performances and interviews with celebrated and emerging artists. This acclaimed program, distributed nationally to over 185 stations across the country through NPR Music, is produced by WXPN in Philadelphia.

David Dye is a longtime Philadelphia radio personality whose music enthusiasm has captivated listeners of World Cafe since 1991.

World Cafe and Dye have received numerous awards including: two NFCB Gold Reel Awards, Album Network's "Best Triple A Air Talent," four Philadelphia Magazine's "Best of Philly Awards," the Philadelphia Chapter of NARA "Hero Award" and numerous radio industry trade magazine citations.

4 Years of XPN Free At Noon - February 2005 - February 2009

We're celebrating 4 years of XPN Free At Noon concerts on March 6 with another live concert featuring Shemekia Copeland and the Indigo Girls. The special March 6 show is sold out, but you can hear the show live on the radio or online at XPN.org/listen. 12noon ET on Friday March 6, 2009. Live from WXPN and NPR Music at World Cafe Live in Philadelphia. Support for XPN's Free At Noon is provided by Comcast.

Get first notice of XPN Free At Noon Concerts by becoming an XPN Member. Support the Music and make a Donation, to WXPN now!

The music of The Slip is deceptively straightforward
rock. The layers and intricacy of the sound, with
persevering drums, melodic vocals, and guitars that
easily transition between smooth background and a
driving heaviness, come through on a second listen.

Amy Winehouse has exploded onto the UK pop scene as a retro-inspired, yet fiercely liberated, very modern soul singer. Her joyful clash of pop jazz stylings with brash hip-hop attitude and powerful vocals has turned more than just heads.

Langhorne Slim (Sean Scolnick) is quite an unconventional folk and blues artist. Based in Brooklyn, and originally
from PA, Slim's incredible skill at mixing elements of bluegrass, country, and blues has gained him recognition. {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

Anyone who's seen or heard James Hunter perform is already hip to his remarkable talents as a singer, guitarist and songwriter. This includes Van Morrison who asserts, "James is one of the best voices, and best kept secrets, in British R&B and Soul. Check him out." {readmorelink}Read More...{/readmorelink}

Click the Artist name below to RSVP:

Todd Sniderat World Cafe Live

This Friday at noon, join us as we welcome the southern based singer-songwriter Todd Snider for a free concert at the World Cafe.

Though Todd Snider's roots trace back to Portland, Oregon, his music branches across headstrong southern styles from Austin, Houston and Atlanta. After moving to Memphis in the 1980's, he became a local favorite at The Daily Planet club, where he was discovered by Keith Sykes (Buffet's Coral Reefer Band) and later signed to Margaritaville Records. Upon releasing his debut album "Songs for the Daily Planet" in 1994, Snider's sharp wit and satirical lyricism gained him sizeable recognition for the minor hit "Talkin' Seattle Grunge Rock Blues," a punchy alt-rock tune that earned comparisons to Lyle Lovett and Jerry Jeff Walker. By the time he released his third album "Viva Satellite," his blend of bluegrass, blues, folk-rock and country was instantly recognizeable. As he moved towards a more electronic based sound, he was endlessly compared to Tom Petty, demonstrating that somewhere along the lines of his defining style there was something particularly familiar and comforting about his new sound.

And with the over 10 albums under his name, Snider continues to impress his fans with an incredible sense of honesty, enchanting and witty narration, and relentless optimism. Pairing cheerful storytelling with political commentary and a bluesy rock style, his latest album "The Excitement Plan" intends to bring hope in time of struggle. As Snider retrospectively states "I know right now that times are hard for all of us... These 12 songs can be part of your solution. Just give them a chance. Take them in. Use 'em to help you appreciate your girl if you still got one, and/or your job if you still got one."

PARKING NOTICE

Due to the construction in the area, free parking is no longer available for XPN Free At Noon shows. Metered parking on 31st street is no longer available, and metered parking on Walnut Street is extremely limited as a result of the closure and reconstruction of the South Street Bridge, and the rerouting of traffic onto Walnut Street.

Public transportation to XPN Free At Noon is recommended. WXPN has made arrangements with the University of Pennsylvania to open UPENN Lot #26 on Walnut Street between the hours of 10:30am and 2pm every Friday. If you must drive, you can park there (Cost is $5.00). Entrance to the Lot 26 is on Walnut Street, just east of 32nd street. Here's a link to Penn's Parking map.